VIDEO: Be Vigilant Against Kidnappers

San Carlos City, Pangasinan: Parents here are warned to strictly monitor the whereabouts of their children going to school, even after classes. With the latest report of alleged kidnapping of a 10-year-old, grade four pupil, who happened to escape from three perpetrators, fears mounted among parents and authorities. Thus, vigilance and precautionary measures are strongly advised.

You may watch the complete details here: VIDEO 24 ORAS NCL

Post by 24 Oras North Central Luzon.

Balitang Amianan now 24 Oras North Central Luzon

Part of GMA News and Public Affairs’ move to fortify its stance as the most trusted news organization in the Philippines, all its regional stations nationwide will adopt the title of the national newscast ‘24 Oras’ plus the name of the coverage area.

Thus, Balitang Amianan, the undisputed regional news program in North Central Luzon for more than six straight years since its first airing in 2008, has followed suit and carried 24 Oras North and Central Luzon as its new title!

24 Oras Logo taken at 24 NCL Facebook Page

This major re-branding is part of 24 Oras' re-launch last Nov. 10, with veteran broadcasters Mike Enriquez and Mel Tianco welcoming Vicky Morales as their newest co-anchor.

For 24 Oras North Central Luzon, CJ Torida and Joyce Segui remain as main anchors, backed up by its new roster of field reporters.

24 Oras North Central Luzon News Team
Photo from 24 Oras NCL Facebook Page

"We are re-introducing our regional newscasts not only to give our audience an improved visual experience but more importantly to also make a clear statement that GMA's regional newscasts and the nationwide '24 Oras' share the same identity and mission which is to deliver balanced, unbiased news and without vested interest whatsoever. As we say it in Filipino, 'walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan, Serbisyong Totoo lamang,'" says Cel Amores, Assistant Vice-President and Head for GMA Regional News and Public Affairs.

From Monday to Friday, catch the all-new 24 Oras newscasts over seven GMA regional stations in Dagupan, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Ilocos and Bicol. 

Article first published HERE. #

Amazing 2013, Welcome 2014! Praise the Lord

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:1-5, NIV)

There are many things to thank God for this 2013. I could say that God is indeed good all the time, despite all the trials, sufferings, and lack I experienced last year. I decided to count my blessings and triumphs instead of being frustrated with the things that did not materialize or plans unfulfilled last year. With a grateful heart, I thank God for 2013.

January 2013, I was awarded by Tagnawa Media Awards (University of Pangasinan, Dagupan City) as the Best Male TV Field Reporter. It was the second award I received after Dap-ay Awards in Baguio City had given me the same recognition for 2012. Such recognitions inspire me to work even harder, always aiming for integrity and excellence, all for God’s glory.

Best Male TV Field Reporter,
2nd Tagnawa Media Awards, Lingayen, Pangasinan

First quarter of 2013 was also filled with God’s grace and strength. I was able to pursue my graduate studies in language and literature, and am now in the serious and tedious process of writing my research proposal, and hopefully, the research itself. I pray that I will be able to complete the graduate program this 2014.

I prayed for a relationship and God granted my prayers in May. My girlfriend Ida becomes my best answered prayer for 2013. I hope and pray that our relationship will grow, as we continue to seek God’s will for us. We covet your prayers.

:) Mt. Pulag, Benguet, Philippines

I also thanked God for my parents’ vacation in Boracay for their wedding anniversary last year. I served as their tour guideJ. I look forward to be travelling with them every year, so I pray for more provisions and favor.

The Lord never fails to give strength, protection and favor in my work. With all the different disaster and calamity coverage, crimes, politics, and human interest stories I covered last year, I believe the Lord saw me through. PTL!

Last year was also a challenging year for volunteer work and ministry. I thanked God for every opportunity that I was able to minister to students. I thanked God for the time we spent in prayer, bible study and fellowship. I also thanked God for my support group in the church. I pray that I will be more passionate in the ministry, loving “them” as Jesus loves me so much that He died for my sins.

I prayed for promotion last year, but the Lord granted me position and favor. I thanked God that He knows what’s best for me, and there will always be time for learning, patience and reflection. I saw it as a test of patience and humility. I thank God because I believe he will grant my heart’s desire.

Baguio Flower Festival/Panagbenga 2013 hosts 

Primera Balita 

Before 2013 had ended, I grabbed the opportunity for online learning offered by an international media training provider in Netherlands. For more than six weeks, I have learned new things that I could use in my work. I am praying for more exciting and challenging learning opportunities abroad this 2014.

I thank God for my family, my mentors, my friends, workmates and even the strangers I met along the way. These were the people I value and treasure so much. They are significant people contributory to my journey towards maturity, discipline and character. I speak blessings for all of them.

With a grateful heart and faith, 2014 is definitely the Year of the Lord. †

  

Five Years in the 5th Worst Job in the World, and I have no regrets!

Five years of God’s faithfulness and goodness in the workplace. Five years of testing, trial and triumph. Five years of enduring, enjoying and engaging with people, with facts, with stories. Five years of both heart-warming and heart-breaking realities of events, of lives. Five years of unwavering hope, inspiration and public service. Five years, and counting.

This is the job that I prayed for and wanted to do. Initially, I just wanted to write. But I was given the rare opportunity not only to write, but also to be heard and seen, through the audio-visual medium. I am a broadcast journalist, and I love being one.

 A survey by CareerCast in 2012 ranked being a journalist as the fifth-worst job to have and become. The stress, the irregular working hours, the not-so-high compensation, the excruciating waiting discipline requirement, and yes, the pressures from the management! These and all other points may be true. But seeing the other side of the coin, becoming a journalist, at least on my part, proves to be one of the most fulfilling, rewarding and challenging jobs to have, ever!

I have experienced amazing and countless moments of “first times” because of my job. All these were free of charge, only guts to pay. For the first time, I was able to ride in a helicopter during my extensive marijuana eradication coverage in the hinterlands of Cordillera. After touching almost the clouds and the heavens, I then submerged myself somewhere at the bottom of the sea for an underwater coverage. It was my first time then to scuba dive, and I always get excited whenever there’s a chance for an underwater coverage. Work should be fun!

I get to eat foods I have never tasted before. I get to travel to places I have never imagined to discover. I get to meet and greet celebrities and high-profiled personalities. So? Well, I have never earned and received money from them, but we call it psychological income! And all these boost our confidence!

It was my first time to be bribed by people of hidden interest. But through God’s grace, He preserved me, and still is preserving me to have clean hands. One can live right and clean in this industry marred also by lies and corruption. We also have to police our very ranks.

It will take some pages to put into details all my first times. But definitely, these first times were repository of lessons and knowledge, of experience and realities, of hope and joy, of courage and discipline. More importantly, these first times were springboard for the second, third and countless times of new learning. Not only the unfolded events that grant insights but also the various stories and pleas of people I have come to meet along the way.

Street sweepers have their stories to tell. They earn from our trashes, but they despise our garbage. Beggars wander night and day, but they remain homeless and voiceless. Prostituted men and women hide from the shadow of immorality because there is lack of covering and comfort, of opportunity to earn through a decent job. They need real love and respect. Corruption still exists, injustice still prevails, but only a few stands straight and principled. Poverty issues are favorite topics, yet there is not much action being taken to address it. Or actions are just too slow .

Accidents, crime, victims of abuses, and yes, disasters! These fall under the category of hard news. Sometimes, these are indeed hard to swallow. These are difficult to cover. You need to be immersed; you need to be there on-site to contextualize your stories. I need to be sensitive and responsible even more. I need a heart to empathize and a mind to comprehend the real score of the story. I need to be really human in dealing with people. They, too, are humans with feelings and emotions, with soul and spirit.

 

In journalism, particularly in broadcast media, I am challenged to exercise the responsibility and power it holds. In the Philippines where media is considered to be the “Fourth State,” my role as a member of that imperfect yet influential institution is very vital. Whatever stories that I report, people generally believe them to be true and factual. Therefore, I consider my job as an expression, not only of my passion, but also of my high regard towards truth, good governance, transparency, and other significant advocacies.

Journalists are heralds, both of good and bad news. As a media practitioner for five years, I wish and hope that I have become a herald of TRUTH, good or bad news that might be.

Cheers! †

Newscasts

YearEnd Report: I happened to waste my time surfing the site of gmanews.tv and thought of posting the links of my major reports aired in national newscast. For those who missed watching me, you can have a glimpse of what I'm doing in the region with the following links:

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/27846/10-Koreans-die-in-car-crash

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/31406/QTV-Police-destroy-marijuana-plantation

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/31395/Marijuana-plantation-in-La-Union-Benguet-destroyed

http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/related/31425/Govt-authorities-seize-hectares-of-marijuana-plants

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/31425/Govt-authorities-seize-hectares-of-marijuana-plants

*(these were two same stories aired in different news programs of gma7)